Prayer

November 12, 2015 | By Chuck

Prayer is so many things to so many people. Prayer is a tool for spiritual growth in the Christians tool box. Prayer is a way of getting through a tough day and a way to celebrate a good day. Prayer is a simple conversation with our Heavenly Father. Prayer is man's quest for intimacy with God. No matter what prayer is to you, prayer works, just ask Hezekiah. Hezekiah, the leader of God's people, was so sick that he was near death. The prophet Isaiah confirmed for Hezekiah that he would not recover from his illness but would die. Hezekiah immediately and in earnestness prayed to the Lord as he wept bitterly. The Lord sent Isaiah back to Hezekiah to inform him that God had heard his prayer and would heal him. "On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life."(II Kings 20:5b-6a) You see, prayer works. God said, yes, to Hezekiah's prayer and extended his physical life. That's a great story that strengthens our faith in God and the avenue of prayer. But let's not automatically assume, after reading about Hezekiah, that God will immediately answer our every prayer the way we desire. I believe God answers every prayer, but, I also believe that He sometimes answers with a no. No is an answer, just maybe not the one we want. Rest assured if God answers your prayer with a no, it's for your own good. I'm so thankful that we can talk to our God anytime and know that He answers our every prayer in accordance to His will, which I believe is what's best for us. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of him."(I John 5:14-15)